“It’s encouraging to see the strong support for these innovations from a range of stakeholders. We will continue to review our driving laws, in order to ensure drivers can enjoy the potential of these new tools safely.”

The changes are part of a package to ensure UK road laws support automated driving technology.

Steve Gooding, director of motoring research charity the RAC Foundation, said: “Even the best drivers can get sweaty palms when confronted with a tight parking space, but as with so many aspects of motoring the technology to assist exists and has now been legislated for.

“This law change shows that ministers are determined to ensure regulations keep up with the tech so we all benefit from advances that make our lives both simpler and safer.

“It is important that these relatively small advances in automation work flawlessly as this will build consumer confidence for the day when the car won’t just be doing the parking but also all of the driving.”

Mike Hawes, chief executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, said: “Connected and autonomous vehicles will transform our lives, with the potential to reduce up to 25,000 serious accidents and create more than 300,000 jobs over the next decade.